March of Ghosts, the new album from Gazpacho is OUT NOW.

Classic Rock Prog have described it as a 'thrilling example of how this band combine straightforward songwriting with subtly layered arrangements and gently executed dynamic shifts' before going on to state that it is 'an album that hides its depth, grit and versatility behind a disarming mist of frailty, but with immense emotional weight, making every gorgeously sorrowful moment count... aside from marvelling at the sheer beauty of the whole thing, you may find yourself feeling both exhausted and curiously uplifted as the last chords die away'

Promo for 'What Did I Do?'

'What Did I Do?' is based around the story of the English writer P.G. Wodehouse who was accused of treason after a series of broadcasts he did on German radio during WWII. He was interned as a foreign national by the Germans and spent some time in prison camp before finally being released at 60.

After he was released he stayed for some time at a country estate where he was informed of what crimes the Nazis were guilty of and how impossibly stupid it was to agree to broadcast on their radio.

It is his ghost we hear sitting on the porch listening to the gramophone recordings of the broadcasts trying to understand why these simple funny narratives had caused such an uproar. The song also deals with our level of involvement in society. Are we by birth under any obligation to take part in whatever political or social system we are born into?

The new studio album from acclaimed norwegian post-progressive art rockers

Gazpacho return with their new album, ‘March of Ghosts’, which is out now.

Formed in Oslo in 1996 by childhood friends Jon-Arne Vilbo and Thomas Andersen along with Jan-Henrik Ohme (later joined by Mikael Krømer, Lars Erik Asp and Kristian Torp), Gazpacho have honed their unique sound over a string of critically acclaimed albums and numerous tours, including several with long-time supporters Marillion.

March of Ghosts is the band's follow-up to Missa Atropos, which was released on Kscope in 2011 along with the live album, London. London was recorded on the band's recent European tour and the success of this tour helped provide the genesis for March of Ghosts, as Jon-Arne explains: 'the previous tour gave us lots of inspiration. So, the week after returning we went straight into the studio to capture whatever came. As a result, the majority of the album was written in a day writing orgy where the band got together and jammed for a full day and night… “March of Ghosts” was surprisingly easy to write.'

Such was the success of these early sessions that a lot of the material that can be heard on the final album comes from this original jam session. This material was then honed, dissected and refined throughout the summer and autumn of 2011 to create a coherent whole.

While Missa Atropos can be viewed as a concept album, following the story of one person leaving everything behind, Thomas sees March of Ghosts is much more as a collection of short tales; 'The idea was to have the lead character spend a night where all these ghosts (dead and alive) would march past him to tell their stories.'

Characters include Haitian war criminals, the crew of the Marie Celeste, a returning American WWI soldier who finds himself in 2012 and the ghost of an English comedy writer who was wrongly accused of treason and who will sit for eternity listening to gramophone recordings of the broadcasts he did on enemy radio. As lead singer Jan-Henrik explains, 'They are short stories. They are a march of ghosts. They are tales that need to be told.'

Here is the recent Kscope Podcast, featuring new music and an interview with Gazpacho, from Krypton Sound Planet in Oslo

YTSEJAM.com Review

Having released an album every 1-2 years, Gazpacho are one of the most active bands in progressive rock, but still they have remained one of the genre's best kept secrets - that is until of recent. Being even more provocative since their signing to Kscope music, this Norwegian sextet has expanded upon their sound moving from their blatant soundscapes in tow with both an atmospheric & ethereal vibe to a more intricate exposition of nu-prog.

As their seventh studio album entails, March of Ghosts provides the mannerisms of their past records ranging from When Earth Lets Go to Tick-Tock with the melodic spasms of late period Anathema and Nosound, but with more of a precarious aura ala Radiohead, Riverside & Muse, riding on the strengths of the musicianship coexisting with their bold songwriting approach.

Alongside the ethereal moodiness provided by the pianos/keyboards, the dense melodies, & spacious reverb, you have the experimental tendencies and even some Celtic folk elements utilized in a passive aggressive manner - the four-part 'Hell Freezes Over,' scattered around the album runs through the traditional motifs of the band, adding edginess with more straight ahead acoustic elements and even metal at times. 'Gold Star,' 'Mary Celeste,' & 'Golem' could easily be fodder for modern college radio, offering up sophisticated tunage to the new era of both alternative and indie rock - there is potential to cross over into the mainstream, without bowing down to corporate lies.

The whole album is conjoined by the band's knack for strong production and musical narratives, and Jan-Henrik Ohme's vocals are reminiscent to Thom Yorke & Matthew Bellamy, adding more fuel to the fact that thesis Norwegians have mastery at creating their own sound in relevant to Britpop & Shoegaze. This is their day and March of Ghosts is the album that will move them beyond just the prog audience - no candy-ass Marillion or Dream Theater clonage here.

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